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Arsenal are reportedly ready to rival their north London foes for the signing of Galatasaray defender, Victor Nelsson, according to reports coming out of Turkey.

What's the latest on Nelsson to Arsenal?

As per transfer insider Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, writing on Twitter, both the Gunners and rivals Tottenham Hotspur are said to be in the race for the 24-year-old's signature, albeit with the likes of Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund also tracking the Dane's progress.

The Turkish journalist also revealed, however, that the centre-back's "first choice" is to seal a move to the Premier League, having spent the last two seasons with the Istanbul outfit.

This comes amid reports that Spurs – now led by new boss Ange Postecoglou – have lodged a big of around €22m (£19m) for the former Copenhagen ace, albeit with the Super Lig giants said to be holding out for closer to €25m (£21m) if they are to sanction a sale.

Should Arsenal sign Victor Nelsson?

It would no doubt be a real delight to Arsenal supporters if the club could get one over on Postecoglou and co by snapping up Nelsson this summer, with the ex-Celtic boss having seemingly already been dealt a blow amid reports that the Lilywhites are likely to lose out to Newcastle United for the signing of James Maddison.

Further reports have suggested that the 57-year-old is eyeing a new centre-back addition as he seeks to strengthen his defensive options at N17, hence the apparent interest in a coveted talent such as Nelsson ahead of next season.

The signing of the 6 foot 1 ace would not merely be a way for Mikel Arteta and co to frustrate their neighbours, with the ten-cap rock having also showcased himself to be quality asset in his own right, having enjoyed "exemplary" development in recent years, according to talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Lauded as a "great mix of a pure defender and ball-playing centre-back" by Kulig, the one-time Nordsjaelland ace could well represent a dream upgrade on long-serving Gunners man, Rob Holding, with Arteta believed to be open to offers for the Englishman.

The former Bolton Wanderers man has failed to prove himself as a reliable option in recent years, with club legend Emmanuel Petit stating that: "If you want to win titles I think it’s difficult for Holding to play every game".

The 27-year-old was notably "exposed woefully" in the defeat to title rivals Manchester City at the Etihad back in April, according to GOAL's Charles Watts, with that a marker that he is perhaps not the best understudy to the likes of Gabriel and William Saliba.

As such, bringing Nelsson into the fold could well allow Arteta to finally show Holding the door, with the difference in quality between the pair seemingly stark.

That is shown by the fact that in 14 league appearances for the Emirates outfit in 2022/23, the current Arsenal man failed to keep a single clean sheet and averaged just 0.2 interceptions and 0.6 tackles per game, while his Danish counterpart, by contrast, help to record 15 shut outs in 33 league outings, while averaging one interception and 0.8 tackles per game.

That superior defensive quality is also shown by the fact that while Holding won just 56% of his aerial duels in the most recent campaign, Nelsson was far more dominant having won 65% of his aerial duels, proving just why he is something of a "pearl" at the heart of the defence, as per Kulig.

It is then plainly clear why Arteta would be interested in snapping up the latter man over the coming weeks, with the Gunners not wanting to allow the aforementioned Postecoglou to acquire such a quality option as part of his Spurs summer rebuild.

Arsenal have reportedly submitted a bid for Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his squad ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Sacha Boey to Arsenal?

According to Turkish outlet Turkiye Gazetesi, Arsenal have submitted a bid in the region of €20m (£17m) for the defender, however, Galatasaray are demanding €25m (£21.5m) for one of their prized assets this summer.

According to the report, the Turkish side want to negotiate and get a deal done which matches their demands, with Arsenal ‘expected to accelerate’ in order to complete the move.

Brighton and Hove Albion are also keen on the 22-year-old, yet the lure of Champions League football next season at the Emirates will surely prove to be the main factor for Boey.

Could Sacha Boey be an upgrade on Takehiro Tomiyasu?

Ahead of Arsenal’s first foray in Europe’s premier club competition since 2016/17, Arteta will be keen to improve various areas of his squad, with the right-back area clearly one that needs to be bolstered.

Ben White was often shifted from his usual centre-back position to deputise on the right last season, whilst Takehiro Tomiyasu made 32 appearances, yet only 13 of those were starts – might Boey be an upgrade on the Japanese defender ahead of next term?

The Frenchman has underlined his importance to his team as they claimed their first league title since 2019 this season. He ranked 6th for overall rating across the whole squad (7.11), fourth for big chances created (seven), third for successful dribbles per game (1.1) and second for tackles per game (2.7), clearly playing a key role in Galatasaray’s title triumph.

Tomiyasu in comparison, ranked 18th in the Arsenal squad for overall rating (6.68), 15th for big chances created (one), 20th for successful dribbles per game (0.0) and sixth for tackles per game (1.3), clearly indicating that the 22-year-old would make for a much better option on the right side of Arteta’s defence next season.

Journalist Zach Lowy once described Boey as an “intriguing prospect” in 2021 before he made the move to Turkey, and it's fair to suggest that he has indeed developed into a well-rounded right-back, who can both defend and attack effectively, judging by his returns in the Galatasaray squad this term.

It’s evident that Arteta needs some major strength across his defence in order to sustain another Premier League title challenge in 2023/24 and luring Boey to the club for an aforementioned fee of £21.5m could prove to be a wise investment over the coming years.

Tottenham Hotspur are gathering information on FC Porto's Diogo Costa, having recently conducted a scouting mission to assess the goalkeeper, according to reports from Portugal.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Tottenham are keen to replace Lloris at the end of the season, having identified Gavin Bazunu as a potential replacement for the Frenchman, and they believe £15m could now be enough to land the Southampton shot-stopper.

Another option for Spurs between the sticks is Valencia's Giorgi Mamardashvili, although they are not the only Premier League club in the race for his signature, with Aston Villa also being named as potential suitors.

Villa may be in the market for a new goalkeeper as Emiliano Martinez could be on the move this summer, having recently been linked with a move to north London, with Chelsea and Manchester United also in the race for the Argentine.

According to reports from Portugal (via Sport Witness), Costa is also attracting the interest of a number of top clubs from across Europe, with Man United, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham linked with a move for the FC Porto goalkeeper.

Spurs are said to be gathering information on the 23-year-old, having sent a scout to watch him in the match between Porto and Casa Pia at the weekend.

The report claims that the Portuguese goalkeeper, who has a €75m (£65m) release clause, put in an impressive performance, making several good saves while being watched by scouts from several big European teams.

Should Tottenham sign Diogo Costa?

With Lloris now 36-years-old, the Lilywhites need to think about bringing in a new long-term replacement, and the Portugal international could be a fantastic purchase, given just how impressive he has been over the course of the past year.

The Switzerland-born shot-stopper has recorded a vastly superior save percentage, when compared to Lloris, saving 77% of the shot he has faced per 90, while he is also far more comfortable in possession, averaging 40.52 touches per 90.

Journalist Karan Tejwani has lauded the 6 foot 3 colossus as "absolutely sensational", also praising his "incredible" record of saving penalties, having stopped nine, and one in each of his last three Champions League games at the time of writing.

Given that he is just 23-years-old, Costa could prove to be an excellent long-term replacement for Lloris, and Tottenham should undoubtedly look to sign him this summer, as his performances merit paying the £65m price tag.

BCB president Nazmul Hassan has said that Bangladesh was the only country to oppose the proposed two-tier Test structure when it was discussed in the chief executive’s committee (CEC) meeting last week during the ICC’s annual conference in Edinburgh. He said a decision on the matter was likely to come down to a vote by the Full Members, adding that it wouldn’t be “easy” to have it passed in the ICC.”Bangladesh was the only country to oppose this idea in the [CEC] meeting, where we explained our position,” Hassan said. “But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who has opposed it and who hasn’t. The decision will be taken through a vote, so if one or two do not vote, it doesn’t really matter. But I don’t think it will be easy get this passed at the ICC. The issue isn’t so [simple]. It is a tough process.”BCB vice-president Mahbubul Anam, and directors Ahmed Sajjadul Alam and Tanjil Chowdhury, had said last month that they were against such a system being implemented in Test cricket. Should it be implemented, Bangladesh, who are ranked ninth, are likely to slip into Division Two of Test cricket.According to the ICC’s press release at the end of the annual conference, members were updated on the progress being made on the two-tier idea during the CEC meeting. It was proposed that a workshop be scheduled in early September in Dubai, to facilitate discussion between members on this project and to work through some of the details.ICC chief executive David Richardson said that the new structure would make the game more competitive. “This is an unprecedented opportunity for our sport to introduce … structures which are merit and performance based, have context, enhance the value of bilateral cricket, and create a highly competitive environment for cricketers.”This is a complex issue on many levels, but I am heartened by the progress that has been made to date and during these meetings.”

وصلت بعثة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، إلى دبي استعداداً لخوض بطولة كأس دبي للتحدي، خلال الفترة من 26 وحتى 28 يناير الجاري، بمشاركة أندية الرجاء المغربي والأهلي السعودي ووهان ثري تاونز الصيني.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الزمالك مع الرجاء المغربي وديا يوم الجمعة المقبل على ستاد آل مكتوم، وكان الفريق شارك في دورة نادي الوحدة الإماراتي بأبوظبي قبل التوجه مساء اليوم إلى دبي.

إقرأ أيضًا..فيديو | الزمالك يخسر أمام أم صلال القطري بثنائية في دورة الإمارات الودية قائمة الزمالك في كأس دبي للتحدي

حراسة المرمى: محمد عواد – معاذ علاء الدين – عبد الرحمن نفاد.

خط الدفاع: محمد عبد الشافي – حاتم سكر – أحمد زكي – محمود حمدي “الونش” – مصطفى الزناري – محمود علاء – حمزة المثلوثي – عمر جابر.

خط الوسط: محمد أشرف “روقا” – نبيل عماد “دونجا” – سيد عبدالله “نيمار” – مصطفى شلبي – يوسف إبراهيم “أوباما” – محمود عبد الرازق “شيكابالا” – محمد حسام “بيسو” – محمد السيد – إبراهيما نداي.

الهجوم: سامسون أكينيولا – ناصر منسي – عمار ياسر.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has handed Chelsea an exciting transfer boost after claiming a move for Kendry Paez is essentially as good as being completed.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

It's fair to argue that things haven't exactly been smooth since Todd Boehly arrived at Stamford Bridge with Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter both getting the sack and interim Frank Lampard losing all his games.

In terms of transfers, things have looked pretty unstructured too with around £566m being spent on transfers – such as Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Kalidou Koulibaly and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – during the American's reign so far.

And while that hasn't yielded many positive results on the pitch in the short term, the Blues are now seemingly hoping to do some deal that can help the club in years to come.

Indeed, as explained by Romano on his YouTube channel, 15-year-old Ecuadorian midfielder Paez is close to joining Chelsea after a move was approved by the Premier League and the FA.

The journalist said: "Could be a disaster, let me say, for Chelsea to miss [out] on one of the best talents in the world.

"Discussing about a very young player, born in 2007, Kendry Paez, because this Ecuadorian midfielder is doing fantastic at the under-17 [level]. And he's a 15-year-old player, so he's very young, but Chelsea have [had] their hands on this player [for] a long time.

"What I can tell you guys, is that everything is approved by Premier League, everything is approved by the FA. So just waiting on the contract to be signed, but everything will be done, there is no doubt.

“So I know there are rumours of other clubs potentially entering the race for Kendry Paez, but from what I understand, there is no longer any race – everything is agreed."

Will Kendry Paez join Chelsea?

After the UK left the EU following Brexit, it's been harder for Premier League sides to sign young talents from Europe, which has led to more interest in under-18 players from South America.

Of course, there are still strict criteria for these teenagers to pass before they can get a work permit to come over to England. But it sounds as though Paez will have no issue on that front after this latest update from Romano.

And so, the younger from Independiente del Valle – who already has one goal in four outings for the senior side – looks set to end up at Chelsea in the future.

اتخذت لجنة الحكام المصرية، قرارًا بتعيين حكم ساحة، مساعدًا لحكم تقنية الفيديو، في العديد من المباريات هذا الموسم.

من الشائع أن يكون مساعد حكم تقنية الفيديو، حكم راية، لكي يكون للأخير الكلمة العليا في قرارات احتساب التسلل، ووضع الخطوط، ولكن القواعد غير مُلزمة بذلك.

ويكشف بطولات مدى قانونية تعيين حكم ساحة كمساعد لحكم تقنية الفيديو، إذ من الممكن أن يكون حكما تقنية الفيديو حكامًا للساحة، بشرط أن يقوم أحدهما بواجبات ومهام حكم الفيديو والآخر مساعدًا له.

طالع أيضًا | خاص | “الشراب والقرعة” .. تعليمات جديدة من بيريرا للحكام قبل المباراة

ومن الممكن أن يكون حكم تقنية الفيديو أيضًا من الحكام المتقاعدين وليس حكم عامل، بشرط أن يكون حاصلًا على رخصة حكم الفيديو “رخصة VAR”.

يذكر، أن فيتور بيريرا، رئيس لجنة الحكام، كان قد طلب من مجلس إدارة اتحاد الكرة صرف “بدل للحكام” عن كل مباراة، ويكون ذلك مُنفصلًا عن المُقابل المالي الذي يحصل عليه الحكم.

وسيدرس اتحاد الكرة طلب بيريرا، خاصة أن رئيس اللجنة أكد على ضرورة هذا الأمر بالنسبة لهم، وسيكون له تأثير إيجابي على الحكام في الفترة القادمة.

As ten-man Manchester United hung on to secure a point at home to Southampton at the weekend, one man who was instrumental in fending off the visitors was Argentine centre-back, Lisandro Martinez, with the World Cup winner again showcasing his class both in and out of possession.

Arguably the club's "best player" against the Saints, according to The Athletic's Carl Anka, the 25-year-old regularly bailed his side out of trouble after recording nine recoveries on the day, having also been remarkably composed on the ball – at one stage expertly turning his man just outside United's penalty area.

That standout showing has come amid what has been a stunning campaign thus far for the former Ajax man since his £56.7m arrival, with the 5 foot 9 warrior shaking off any early doubts over his suitability to the Premier League to become a leading figure in Erik ten Hag's side.

The relentless "animal" – as hailed by compatriot Emi Martinez – has already started 32 games in all competitions this season as a marker of his importance to the backline, with Ten Hag seemingly favouring a left-footed option at centre-back.

The problem for the Red Devils boss will be that lack of alternatives to the 15-cap machine in that role when required, with it perhaps somewhat unsustainable to have to use starting left-back Luke Shaw as something of a makeshift option in the centre of defence.

Therefore, finding a potential heir or understudy to Martinez could be vital for the Old Trafford outfit in the near future, with Ten Hag potentially having an ideal candidate for the role in the form youth star, Bjorn Hardley.

Who is Bjorn Hardley?

While likely not a name familiar to most United supporters, young Hardley has been on the cusp of the first team in recent times, despite having been left to wait to make his senior debut for the club.

The 20-year-old centre-back – who arrived at the club from NAC Breda in his homeland back in 2019 – was called up to first-team training by former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back in October 2021, having also again made the step up last month with Ten Hag keen to take a closer look.

The promising Dutchman mirrors Martinez in his ability to feature at the heart of the defence, as well as at left-back or in central midfield if required, having previously been hailed as a "special kid" by academy scout, Rene Moonen.

Equally, the 6 foot 2 ace has also been hailed as a "real leader" in the recent past by youth coach Neil Ryan, with such a trait again sparking a likeness with that of the Argentine, who has been praised by his manager for bringing "personality" and "character" to the club.

Hardley's quality has been evident so far this season as he has made 22 appearances in all competitions at U21 level – registering two goal contributions – having notably featured in all five EFL Trophy outings earlier in the campaign.

Those appearances in that latter competition saw the emerging gem average a solid 1.6 tackles and one interception per game from his defensive berth, with that record not too dissimilar to that of Martinez, who has averaged 1.8 and 1.2 for the same two metrics, respectively, in the league.

That should indicate that Ten Hag should truly consider giving Hardley a chance if he is to rotate his side in the near future, with the youngster seemingly possessing the necessary traits to be able to flourish in his compatriot's system.

Chelsea are steeped in success. The prestigious Premier League football club lives, eats and breathes silverware, with the outfit’s transfer activity over the past few decades clinching some of the game’s most coveted stars…

This season alone, the west London side have spent over £550m on new arrivals, and despite falling into mid-table mediocrity, the affluence paves a crystallised path to sustained success; indeed, since the turn of the millennia, the Blues have won 23 honours, with Manchester City winning 17 competitions and Manchester United gleaning 26 trophies.

But sometimes, the torrential influx of talent gushes wide of the mark, and one signing that stands bitterly tall among the mass of acquisitions is Danny Drinkwater, whose £35m transfer from Leicester City in 2017 can be viewed as nothing other than a comprehensive and costly failure.

How did Danny Drinkwater do at Chelsea?

Despite playing an integral in the Foxes’ unprecedented title-winning 15/16 campaign, starting 35 Premier League matches en route to glory, Drinkwater miserably failed to replicate the success when switching to Chelsea.

After his arrival, the Englishman could not integrate into the side as planned and played just 22 matches across all competitions, starting only five times in the league.

In total, the 33-year-old would play just 23 times, meaning he forged one solitary appearance after his stuttering maiden season, with the player branding his time at the club a “shambles” after moving on in 2021.

His showings for the club works out at roughly £1.5m an appearance, illuminating just how shocking a failure the transfer turned out to be for former Blues boss Antonio Conte, with former technical director Michael Emenalo saying “he is a typically combative English midfielder with a cultured passing technique and his arrival significantly strengthens our midfield options” after the centre-midfielders arrival.

With two failed loan stints at Burnley and Aston Villa while on the books at Stamford Bridge, the once flourishing career of the enterprising midfielder fell apart, with drink water never quite rekindling his former vigour.

Where is Drinkwater now?

After leaving Chelsea and penning a heartfelt letter explaining his pathos at how things turned out at Stamford Bridge, Drinkwater has failed to find a new club after being released upon the expiry of his contract last summer.

Labelled a “forgotten man” by author Mark Worrall, there may well be no way back for the industrious ace, with the detrimental transfer to Chelsea undoubtedly now viewed with overwhelming regret for all parties involved.

The Blues are steeped in success, and more often than not strike true when crafting their teams, but Drinkwater’s miserable time at the club will remain one of the biggest blunders in the Premier League’s modern transfer history.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s last few months in charge of Glasgow Rangers were anything but enjoyable for the Ibrox faithful.

Having secured the Scottish Cup and reached the Europa League final in 2021/22, there were high hopes amongst the Light Blues’ supporters that the club could win back the Premiership crown and qualify for the Champions League.

Despite reaching the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition, the Light Blues lost all six matches, posting the tournament’s worst-ever group stage record in the process. They have also slipped nine points behind their Glasgow arch-rivals in the chase for the title, with a 4-0 defeat at Parkhead earlier this season a low point of Van Bronckhorst’s tenure.

The Dutchman had a somewhat low-key transfer window last summer, and following some laughable defensive displays such as the 7-1 Ibrox drubbing by Liverpool, he should have perhaps kept Croatian defender Nikola Katic at the club for at least another year.

What is Nikola Katic doing now?

The centre-back wasn’t perfect, but he possessed a “warrior”-like attitude according to former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard. The 26-year-old played 59 times for the club and scored six goals, with his headed winner against Celtic in 2019 his most notable contribution.

An injury which ruled him out of the entire title-winning campaign in 2020/21 set him back in terms of first-team action, and he spent a season on loan at Hajduk Split last year before Van Bronckhorst decided to sell him to FC Zurich last summer.

His form this season, coupled with the Gers’ defensive lapses, would suggest that the Glasgow club might have pulled the trigger a little too soon when it came to selling the Croatian. Across 12 league appearances for Zurich, Katic has an average Sofascore rating of 7.01/10, ranking him as the club’s fifth-best performer this term.

He also ranks first for accurate passes (38.5) and clearances (four) per game, while ranking third for interceptions (1.6 per game) and sixth for tackles (1.5) with the Swiss club, proving his worth in Europe and becoming a crucial member of their first-team.

His figures for clearances and interceptions would actually rank him first among the Rangers squad for both metrics, with Connor Goldson top with three clearances per game and John Lundstram leading the way in terms of interceptions with 1.1 per game. That all suggests that Katic could well have made a difference had he remained at Ibrox.

Of course, this is just conjecture, as he may not have been given much game-time under Van Bronckhorst had they both stayed. However, with John Souttar missing every match since making his debut in July and Goldson also ruled out for a period of time earlier in the campaign, Katic may have played a bigger part this term than what might have been anticipated at the time that he was sold.

The club had a shocker last summer in jettisoning the Croatian, and hopefully Michael Beale is slightly savvier than his predecessor when it comes to selling players in the future.